WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.640 to Genesis chapter 39. Genesis is at the beginning of the Bible. 00:00:09.419 --> 00:00:17.519 We're following along the life of Joseph. And again, if you've missed any of the talks, 00:00:17.820 --> 00:00:23.920 they're recorded for you on the Carragalline Baptist Church website. You can find a list of 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:31.820 all the talks, and they've been provided for you to follow up on. So we're going to read 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:40.900 Genesis chapter 39, all of it. They're wonderful accounts, wonderful true accounts that can teach 00:00:40.900 --> 00:00:49.740 us and help us. So let's hear God's word. Genesis 39, starting at verse 1. 00:00:49.740 --> 00:01:00.140 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian, who was one of Pharaoh's officials, 00:01:00.340 --> 00:01:05.700 the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:13.240 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:20.359 When his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord gave him success in everything he 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:28.599 did, Joseph found favour in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:36.019 household and entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:42.879 household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:50.619 The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 00:01:51.699 --> 00:01:59.039 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph's care with Joseph in charge. He did not concern himself 00:01:59.039 --> 00:02:09.259 with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well built and handsome, and after a while his 00:02:09.259 --> 00:02:14.939 master's wife took notice of Joseph's wife took notice of Joseph and said, come to bed with me. 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:25.259 But he refused. With me in charge, he told her, my master does not concern himself with anything in the 00:02:25.259 --> 00:02:32.919 house. Everything he owns he is entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:43.719 My master has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How then could I do such a 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:52.579 wicked thing and sin against God? And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed 00:02:52.580 --> 00:03:02.960 with her or even be with her. One day he went to the house to his attendants for his duties, and none of the 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:12.500 household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, come to bed with me. But he left his cloak in 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:21.240 her hand and ran out of the house. When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:30.080 house, she called her household servants. Look, she said to them, this Hebrew has been brought to us to make 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:39.300 sport of us. He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:45.300 beside me and ran out of the house. She kept his cloak beside me and ran out of the house. 00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:53.380 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. Then she told him this story. That Hebrew slave you bought 00:03:53.380 --> 00:04:00.580 has come to me to make sport of me. But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:09.140 house. When his master heard the story, his wife told him, saying, this is how your slave treated me. 00:04:09.139 --> 00:04:19.500 He burned with anger. Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:32.360 But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. He showed him kindness and granted him favour in the 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:40.040 eyes of the eyes of the prison warder. So the warder put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison and he was made 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:49.920 responsible of all that was done there. The warder paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care because the Lord 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:55.759 was with Joseph was with Joseph and gave him success, whatever he did. 00:05:00.640 --> 00:05:05.520 Well, let's pray together and we'll look at God's word. Let's pray. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:20.500 Father, you are good and kind. And you have shown that by giving to us your word. 00:05:22.099 --> 00:05:25.159 These true accounts of lives in the past. 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:30.560 That teach us and encourage us today. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:38.980 And so we pray that you would speak to us afresh, that we would focus upon you. 00:05:40.260 --> 00:05:44.879 And you would build us up in our walk and in our faith in you. 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:47.820 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:52.759 The Lord be with you. 00:05:54.860 --> 00:05:58.099 Well done. I didn't think you would say it. 00:05:58.659 --> 00:06:03.100 That's right. The Lord be with you and also with you. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:08.659 Now, what are we asking when we say the Lord be with you? 00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:11.079 What are we asking? 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:17.699 We say it all the time when we pray, especially when we don't quite know what to pray. 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:21.439 Lord, be with Amy in Sheffield. 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:25.420 Lord, be with the Rock and Rooted team. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:30.100 Lord, be with Liz today in hospital. 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:34.300 Lord, be with because they're having a bad time. 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:41.300 What are we actually asking for when we say the Lord be with you? 00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:47.740 Well, I think the answer to that question is found in Genesis 39. 00:06:48.939 --> 00:06:54.139 When God is with you, it makes all the difference. 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:58.680 When God is with you, it makes all the difference. 00:06:58.780 --> 00:07:00.340 We're going to look at two big things. 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:03.900 There's a bit of crossover with both of these ideas. 00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:09.620 But I think together they will help us see what it means that the Lord is with us. 00:07:09.739 --> 00:07:10.439 Two big things. 00:07:10.539 --> 00:07:15.339 That God is present and God is working. 00:07:15.699 --> 00:07:18.959 God is present and God is working. 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:27.159 So first, God is present in the downs and ups of life. 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:33.240 Whatever our experiences and circumstances, God is present. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:39.459 First, he's present in our suffering in the downs. 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:46.459 Joseph, you remember, had been sold off to a bunch of slave traders by his brothers. 00:07:46.599 --> 00:07:50.639 So we pick up the story when Joseph is in a downer. 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:51.699 Verse 1. 00:07:52.419 --> 00:07:55.599 Now, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. 00:07:56.620 --> 00:08:01.439 Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, 00:08:01.859 --> 00:08:06.000 bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:11.920 Now, whatever way, whatever angle we look at this, it's not good, is it? 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:18.279 Joseph's in a bad situation because slaves, well, they don't have rights 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:22.360 and you don't enjoy a comfortable or restful life. 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:28.120 Clearly, God is absent from Joseph's life. 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:33.299 After all, if God is with you, you don't suffer, do you? 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:35.980 Wrong. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:38.179 Look at verse 2. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:43.220 The Lord was with Joseph. 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:46.240 God hadn't gone anywhere. 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:50.820 God was right there with Joseph when his brothers had sold him 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:53.539 and when Potiphar had bought him. 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:57.580 You see, just because life isn't going wonderfully well, 00:08:58.100 --> 00:09:01.220 that doesn't mean to say God has gone AWOL. 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:06.139 Just because this isn't the way we would plan or design our life, 00:09:06.139 --> 00:09:10.540 that doesn't mean God has stopped working in our life. 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:17.599 No, God is present in our suffering. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:27.840 And it's also true that God is present in our successes when we're on the up. 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:33.899 Joseph may be a slave with nothing to his name, but all that was to change. 00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:34.440 Verse 2. 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:41.080 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:47.520 But when things are going good, of course, God is present. 00:09:47.520 --> 00:09:50.900 I mean, even Potiphar could see that. 00:09:50.900 --> 00:09:52.060 Verse 3. 00:09:52.059 --> 00:10:00.000 When his master saw that the Lord was with Joseph and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did. 00:10:00.439 --> 00:10:02.519 Well, Joseph was on the up. 00:10:03.119 --> 00:10:06.739 So it's obvious that God was with him. 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:12.759 But what would happen to Joseph when things went down again? 00:10:13.479 --> 00:10:14.199 What then? 00:10:15.239 --> 00:10:21.219 Well, have a look at the very end of the story because things did take another nasty turn. 00:10:21.220 --> 00:10:23.500 Look at the end of the story. 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:24.379 Verse 20. 00:10:26.300 --> 00:10:32.300 Joseph's master took him, put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:35.639 Does that mean God has gone absent? 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:45.160 Well, while Joseph was there in the prison, verse 21, the Lord was with him. 00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:49.320 You see, we tend to view God like this. 00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:55.500 If we're winning, if things are going well in our life, God is present. 00:10:56.500 --> 00:11:02.540 But if we're losing, if things are going badly, then God is absent. 00:11:03.540 --> 00:11:06.960 And we bring that kind of notion with us through the day. 00:11:07.420 --> 00:11:11.740 So if the day is sunny, unlike today, and the kids are good, 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:14.700 and you find the parking spot that you need, 00:11:14.700 --> 00:11:17.240 Oh, God is with me. 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:23.400 But if I go to the doctor and I receive some bad news, 00:11:23.660 --> 00:11:27.379 well then God is not with me. 00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:33.180 Or if you go to work and the boss calls you into the office to give you a raise, 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:36.460 we can proudly say, God is present. 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:42.519 But when my car breaks down on the way home and it costs me a fortune to fix, 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:47.220 well then we think, God must be absent. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:51.100 But that's not how God works. 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:56.860 The account of Joseph enforces the reality that God is always present, 00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:59.120 and God is always at work. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:02.879 Because our suffering is not a sign that God is absent, 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:07.820 any more than our success is a sign that God is present. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:16.519 God is with us in the downs and the ups and the downs again of life. 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:23.259 In fact, God is with you to bless those around you. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:27.779 So he's present in our suffering, in our success, 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:34.899 and he's present with us in those times so that we can bless others. 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:37.960 God was present with Joseph, 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:45.059 and the reason is so that he would bless those he came in contact with. 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:46.179 So verse 5. 00:12:47.699 --> 00:12:53.819 From the time Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and of all that he owned, 00:12:54.459 --> 00:12:57.859 the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian. 00:12:58.979 --> 00:13:03.359 The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, 00:13:03.719 --> 00:13:06.299 both in the house and in the field. 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:12.779 Blessings rained down on Potiphar in the home and at his workplace. 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:16.279 Joseph was that means of blessing. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.220 Now that shouldn't be a surprise to us. 00:13:20.079 --> 00:13:23.779 Have a look back with me to Genesis chapter 28. 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:27.199 Genesis chapter 28. 00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:29.259 If we went back further, 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:32.319 we'll remember that God made a promise to Abraham 00:13:32.319 --> 00:13:37.379 that he would be a blessing to all the nations. 00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:40.159 And so that promise continues. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:44.000 We pick it up in chapter 28, verse 14. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:49.639 God is speaking to Jacob, Joseph's father. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:52.700 Verse 14 he says, 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:55.759 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:58.300 and you will spread out to the west and to the east, 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:00.360 to the north and to the south. 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:07.840 All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:13.240 I am with you and I will watch over you wherever you go 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:15.660 and I will bring you back to this land. 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:20.900 I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:23.740 You see, God had made this promise 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:26.600 that through the family of Abraham, 00:14:26.939 --> 00:14:30.299 through Isaac, through Jacob, through Joseph, 00:14:30.819 --> 00:14:32.879 God was going to bring his blessing 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:36.659 and he promised that he would never ever leave them 00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:39.159 until he had done what he had promised 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:41.919 and that was to bless the nations. 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:45.699 So back to chapter 39. 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:50.379 So Joseph is part of that great promise. 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:53.360 God was with Joseph, 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:57.160 bringing him all the way from Canaan to Egypt, 00:14:57.520 --> 00:15:00.860 from his own family to Potiphar's family, 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:05.140 so that they would experience the blessing of God 00:15:05.140 --> 00:15:06.820 in their own lives. 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:09.700 God was with Joseph in the downtimes 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:12.300 and in the uptimes, 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:15.660 so that Potiphar, a pagan ruler, 00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:17.900 living in a foreign land, 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:22.180 might see that God is good and gracious. 00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:27.520 You see, is that not the calling of God's people today? 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:30.960 Is that not the calling for the church today? 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:34.080 Whatever situation we find ourselves in, 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:35.980 remember the words of Jesus, 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:39.800 go and make disciples of all nations, 00:15:40.400 --> 00:15:43.400 go and bring the blessing of the gospel, 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:46.360 the good news of God's grace and mercy 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.900 to all peoples 00:15:47.900 --> 00:15:49.639 and remember his promise 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:52.259 and I am always with you 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:55.520 to the very end of the age. 00:15:56.980 --> 00:16:01.940 You see, God is actively present in our life. 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:06.720 It might be that God brings you into a hospital bed. 00:16:07.900 --> 00:16:10.960 It may be that God will give you a job promotion. 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:15.280 But whatever season of life we find ourselves in, 00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:18.420 whether we're on the up or on the way down, 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:21.600 God is present in your suffering. 00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:24.200 He's present in your success 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:28.500 so that we might declare the blessing of God. 00:16:28.780 --> 00:16:31.860 That if we're in a season of suffering, 00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:34.020 we might be able to say, 00:16:34.520 --> 00:16:36.700 God is good and gracious. 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:40.520 That if we're in a time of blessing, 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.700 we might be able to say, 00:16:42.880 --> 00:16:45.900 God is sufficient and God is enough. 00:16:47.180 --> 00:16:49.400 So when we pray the prayer, 00:16:50.140 --> 00:16:51.760 Lord, be with, 00:16:52.900 --> 00:16:56.100 we're asking that God would work through them 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:57.060 in such a way 00:16:57.059 --> 00:17:00.599 that they would bring the blessing of the gospel, 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.159 the good news of Christ, 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:05.379 so that they too may be blessed. 00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:07.259 So first, 00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:09.759 God is present in our downs 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:11.559 and in our ups. 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:16.619 The second big idea 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:18.259 is this, 00:17:18.419 --> 00:17:20.779 God is at work in the temptations 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:23.579 and trials of life. 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:25.700 God is at work in the temptations 00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:27.000 and trials of life. 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:28.139 Joseph, 00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:30.980 at the end of verse 6, 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.619 is in a good place. 00:17:33.639 --> 00:17:35.220 He's risen through the ranks 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.980 to become the right-hand man 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:39.579 of one of the most powerful men 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:41.160 in all of Egypt. 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.319 But that doesn't mean 00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:45.660 he's going to be immune to struggles. 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:47.940 First, 00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:50.299 God is working 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:52.240 in our temptations. 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:54.559 Look at the end of verse 6. 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:57.759 Now Joseph was well built 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.360 and handsome. 00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:01.900 He had a six-pack 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:04.400 and had the chiseled chin. 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:07.940 Something that had not gone unnoticed 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:09.400 by a particular lady. 00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:10.259 Verse 7. 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:12.080 After a while, 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.480 his master's wife 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:15.380 took notice of Joseph 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.180 and said, 00:18:16.840 --> 00:18:18.780 Come to bed with me. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:20.900 You see, 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.780 sometimes looks aren't everything, 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.300 are they? 00:18:24.040 --> 00:18:25.360 Sometimes they bring 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:26.860 unwanted attention. 00:18:27.860 --> 00:18:28.860 And it was becoming 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:30.060 a real struggle 00:18:30.060 --> 00:18:31.380 for Joseph. 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.860 Joseph's temptation 00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:35.460 is sudden. 00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:37.160 It's directed. 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.620 It's constant. 00:18:39.300 --> 00:18:40.000 And it seems 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:42.280 that there is no let-up. 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:44.380 On and on it goes. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:44.640 Sorry, 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.780 can you turn it up, Rob? 00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:46.759 Because I'm shouting 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.519 more and more. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.140 Thank you. 00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:52.280 Thanks very much. 00:18:54.780 --> 00:18:55.980 God is present 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.820 when it's raining. 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:57.620 Don't worry. 00:18:59.780 --> 00:19:00.820 Joseph's temptation 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:02.200 temptation is sudden. 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:04.240 It's directed. 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:05.740 It's constant. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.960 And it seems 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.159 that in his temptation 00:19:08.159 --> 00:19:09.399 there's no let-up. 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:11.220 On and on 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.139 it goes. 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:14.059 Every single day. 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.519 Come on, 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:15.980 Joseph. 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:18.359 I know you want to. 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:20.000 Come on, 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:21.679 just come and sit 00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:22.619 beside me. 00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:25.519 Just a kiss. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.579 That's all. 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:26.599 That's all. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.579 On and on 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:31.180 the temptation goes. 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.139 Now, 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.440 why doesn't God 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.259 step in? 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.079 Why doesn't God 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:37.240 just make it all 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:37.879 stop? 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:38.879 In fact, 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.299 why did God 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.160 make Joseph 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.240 so good-looking 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.319 in the first place? 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.259 If Joseph 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.119 had been just, 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:45.799 well, 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.680 not Joseph, 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.700 but an ordinary 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:48.279 Joe, 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.660 he would never 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.799 have had this issue. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.539 Is God 00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.720 absent again? 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.359 No, 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.819 God is at work 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:57.879 in and through 00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:58.919 the temptation. 00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:00.460 Look, 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.279 despite the 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:03.500 ongoing pressure, 00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:04.539 look at verse 10. 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.119 And though she spoke 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:08.700 to Joseph 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.940 day after day, 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.859 he refused 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:12.779 to go to bed 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.279 with her 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.680 or even 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.740 be with her. 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:17.700 how did 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.519 Joseph 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.859 resist? 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:21.940 How did 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:22.680 he not 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.720 give in? 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.240 Well, 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:25.819 look at his 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.480 response. 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.259 It came in 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:27.980 verse 9. 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.700 No one is 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.620 greater in this 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.680 house than I am. 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.500 My master 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.460 has withheld 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:37.039 nothing from 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.460 me 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.839 except you 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.460 because 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.620 you are 00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.339 his wife. 00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.120 Look, 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:42.539 he's saying, 00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.740 I respect 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.680 my master. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.240 And I 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.819 respect 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.339 you. 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.720 But above 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.539 all of that, 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.660 end of verse 9, 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.039 how then 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.839 could I do 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.660 such a wicked 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.180 thing 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:55.319 and sin 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:56.240 against God? 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:57.720 You see, 00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.599 Joseph is saying, 00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:58.920 look, 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.180 you promised 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:01.259 me so much, 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:03.200 but I love 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.720 God 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.599 more. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.079 God is 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.980 enough for me. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.259 God is 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.359 sufficient for me. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.299 I don't 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.319 need anything 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:11.859 else 00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:13.160 or anyone 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:14.120 else. 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:16.339 you see, 00:21:16.479 --> 00:21:17.239 temptations 00:21:17.239 --> 00:21:17.899 reveal 00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:19.479 where our 00:21:19.479 --> 00:21:20.519 heart is, 00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.579 what we 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:22.299 most 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:23.139 love. 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.319 They 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.099 highlight 00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:26.259 where we're 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.279 most weak 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.779 and where 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.479 we're most 00:21:28.479 --> 00:21:29.059 vulnerable. 00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:30.139 In fact, 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:31.239 temptations 00:21:31.239 --> 00:21:31.839 keep us 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.219 humble. 00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.219 Instead of 00:21:33.219 --> 00:21:33.679 thinking, 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.859 I can handle 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.159 this, 00:21:35.239 --> 00:21:35.719 I've got 00:21:35.719 --> 00:21:36.079 this, 00:21:36.659 --> 00:21:37.299 temptation 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.459 throws us 00:21:38.459 --> 00:21:39.059 back in 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:39.559 God, 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:41.179 in desperation 00:21:41.179 --> 00:21:41.899 because we 00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:42.419 need him. 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.480 You see, 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:44.380 God never 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.400 tempts us, 00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.600 but God 00:21:46.600 --> 00:21:47.600 uses the 00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:48.380 temptations 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:49.259 we face 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.620 to show 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:51.740 our ongoing 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.840 need of 00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:53.279 God. 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:55.500 Joseph 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.019 faced 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.720 temptation 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:58.279 and we 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.100 all face 00:21:59.100 --> 00:21:59.860 temptation. 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.420 For some 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:01.779 of us 00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.560 it's sexual, 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:03.980 for others 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.440 it will be 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.080 a desire 00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:05.940 for wealth 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.400 and for 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:06.900 power. 00:22:07.860 --> 00:22:08.420 It can be 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.180 subtle things 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.000 like a love 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.620 of comfort 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.699 or a 00:22:11.699 --> 00:22:12.279 longing to 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:12.979 be popular 00:22:12.979 --> 00:22:13.739 amongst our 00:22:13.739 --> 00:22:14.239 friends. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.379 Basically, 00:22:15.659 --> 00:22:16.500 temptation is 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.199 anything that 00:22:17.199 --> 00:22:18.000 comes alongside 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.639 us and 00:22:18.639 --> 00:22:18.959 says, 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:20.039 unless you 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.719 have this 00:22:20.719 --> 00:22:21.079 in your 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.619 life, 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.459 your life 00:22:23.459 --> 00:22:24.139 is empty, 00:22:24.979 --> 00:22:25.339 you're 00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:26.159 unfulfilled. 00:22:27.239 --> 00:22:27.799 And we 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.679 struggle when 00:22:28.679 --> 00:22:29.699 those temptations 00:22:29.699 --> 00:22:30.239 come in. 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.019 And maybe 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.719 we ask, 00:22:32.199 --> 00:22:33.000 why doesn't 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.919 God step 00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:34.239 in? 00:22:34.739 --> 00:22:35.500 Why doesn't 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.199 God take 00:22:36.199 --> 00:22:36.839 away this 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:37.419 temptation? 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.600 Why do 00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:39.500 I constantly 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.080 have to 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:40.759 fight and 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.960 battle day 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.960 after day? 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.400 Well, 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.279 temptations 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.100 reveal our 00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:47.560 weakness. 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:49.480 They throw 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.180 us back 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.940 to God 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:52.039 so that 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.500 we can 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.180 see that 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.740 God is 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.300 enough 00:22:54.300 --> 00:22:55.779 and God 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:57.080 is sufficient. 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.820 That's what 00:22:58.820 --> 00:22:59.460 it was for 00:22:59.460 --> 00:22:59.860 Joseph. 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.340 All that 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:01.920 he needed, 00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:02.740 all that 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.120 he ever 00:23:03.120 --> 00:23:03.740 required 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.820 was in 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:05.160 God. 00:23:05.300 --> 00:23:05.759 He didn't 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.339 need 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.200 anything 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.740 else. 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.099 You see, 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.000 temptations 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.980 grow us 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.059 and they 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:12.640 strengthen 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.920 us as 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.700 we depend 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.759 upon 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.319 God. 00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.359 So God 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:18.720 is at 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.119 work 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:20.099 through 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:20.379 our 00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.160 temptations 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:23.259 and God 00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:23.879 is working 00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.619 through 00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:25.099 our 00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:25.900 trials. 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.500 The 00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:27.879 pressure 00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.819 was enormous 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.700 for 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.119 Joseph. 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.759 Eventually 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.400 someone 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.200 or something 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.879 was going 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.519 to give. 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.339 look at 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:36.039 verse 11. 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.660 One day 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.240 he went 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:38.779 into the 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.180 house 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.940 to attend 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.420 to his 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:40.879 duties 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:42.639 and none 00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:42.960 of the 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.519 household 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.240 servants 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.660 were inside. 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.460 She 00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.059 caught 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.599 Joseph 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:49.119 by his 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:49.440 cloak 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.059 and said, 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.440 come to 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:51.940 bed with 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.220 me. 00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:54.180 Well, 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.740 the timing 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.839 was perfect. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:56.960 She 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.460 caught him 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.480 by surprise. 00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.180 They 00:23:59.180 --> 00:23:59.980 were alone. 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:00.980 No 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.440 one 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.000 would 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.259 ever 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.680 know. 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.580 What 00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:04.820 was 00:24:04.820 --> 00:24:05.200 Joseph 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.620 going 00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:05.840 to 00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.120 do? 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:07.700 Well, 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.200 it seems 00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.779 the work 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.340 that God 00:24:09.340 --> 00:24:09.680 had been 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.259 doing in 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.820 Joseph's 00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:11.759 life over 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.299 the weeks 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:12.759 and over 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.340 the months 00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:14.539 strengthened 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.059 him, 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:16.500 gave him 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:18.140 bottle for 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:18.580 what was 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.240 going to be 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:19.920 his biggest 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:21.380 test yet. 00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.820 Look at 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:23.180 the end 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:23.539 of verse 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.000 12. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.839 come to 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:26.319 bed with 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:26.619 me. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.460 But he 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:29.200 left his 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:29.660 cloak 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:31.079 and ran 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:31.500 out of 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.059 the house. 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.079 At this 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.640 point we 00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.279 might say, 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:36.539 well, 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.220 all's well 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.759 that ends 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.099 well. 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:39.420 Perhaps 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:39.859 she will 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.759 finally give 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.440 up chasing 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.200 Joseph and 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.740 run after 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.519 somebody else. 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.599 After all, 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.700 God owes 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.279 Joseph, 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:46.720 doesn't 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:46.920 he? 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.119 Joseph 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:49.039 deserves a 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.579 break for 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.480 saying no 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.339 all of 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:52.180 these years. 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.920 But that's 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:54.360 not how 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:54.980 the account 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.500 ends. 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.360 It goes 00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:57.340 from temptation 00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:58.240 to trial. 00:24:58.840 --> 00:24:59.400 Potiphar's 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:00.160 wife went 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.700 ballistic. 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:01.940 She cries 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.320 out, 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.140 rape! 00:25:04.060 --> 00:25:04.980 You wait 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.019 until Potiphar 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:06.840 gets home. 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.360 Look at 00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:09.259 verse 17. 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.480 Then she 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.080 told him 00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:12.860 this story. 00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:14.519 The Hebrew 00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.460 slave you 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.279 brought us 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.340 came to 00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:18.259 me to 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.980 make sport 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.440 of me. 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.820 But as 00:25:20.820 --> 00:25:21.420 soon as I 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.120 screamed for 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:22.519 help, 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:23.559 he left 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.000 his cloak 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.819 beside me 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.719 and ran 00:25:25.719 --> 00:25:26.299 out of 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:26.959 the house. 00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:28.939 Poor 00:25:28.939 --> 00:25:29.419 Joseph! 00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:30.959 It seems 00:25:30.959 --> 00:25:31.559 he doesn't 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.019 even get 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.779 a chance 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.539 to be 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.099 able to 00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.759 relay or 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.359 tell his 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:35.819 side of 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.419 the story. 00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:37.199 And 00:25:37.199 --> 00:25:37.759 Potiphar 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.799 sees red, 00:25:39.379 --> 00:25:40.259 verse 19. 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.259 When his 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.059 master heard 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.779 the story, 00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:43.939 his wife 00:25:43.939 --> 00:25:44.459 told him, 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:44.859 saying, 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.199 this is how 00:25:46.199 --> 00:25:47.000 your slave 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.679 treated me. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.399 He burned 00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:49.079 with anger 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.619 and Joseph's 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:51.419 master took 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.480 him, put 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:52.840 him in 00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:54.120 prison, the 00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:54.740 place where 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.340 the king's 00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:56.880 prisoners were 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.539 confined. 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:00.900 Where's 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:02.539 God when 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.039 you need 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:03.220 him? 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.120 Joseph had 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:06.160 done everything 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:06.820 right. 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:07.980 He had been 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:08.759 loyal to 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.960 Potiphar, he 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.279 had been 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.279 obedient to 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.680 God, but 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.480 not only does 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.580 God not come 00:26:14.580 --> 00:26:15.160 to him, or 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:16.039 so it seems, 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:17.559 God lets 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.399 this great 00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:19.319 injustice 00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:20.599 take place. 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.519 Even worse, 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.740 God leaves 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.200 him in a 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.639 stranded 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:25.220 prison. 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:25.960 No 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.720 intervention, 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.159 no miracle, 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.319 just a 00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:30.440 dark dungeon. 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.539 Where is 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.019 God? 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.879 What is 00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:36.220 God doing? 00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.119 You see, 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.319 our expectation 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.799 is that if 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.139 we respect 00:26:42.139 --> 00:26:43.099 others, if we 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:44.220 obey God, 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.440 God is 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:45.940 going to 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.680 work good 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.180 in your 00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:47.579 life. 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:48.740 If you 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.900 resist temptation, 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.120 if you don't 00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:52.200 sin, God's 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.019 going to rescue 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.460 you from 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.640 danger, he'll 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.339 heal you if 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:56.380 you're sick, he 00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:57.059 will provide 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:58.019 with you all 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.839 that you want. 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:00.339 Just do the 00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.660 right thing, and 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.819 then all the bad 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.779 stuff is going to 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:05.079 go away, right? 00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:08.059 not so. 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.099 Joseph had 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:11.119 done nothing 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:12.139 wrong. 00:27:12.659 --> 00:27:13.259 He had done 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.319 everything God 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:14.980 had asked of 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.240 him, but yet 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:18.359 trials is what 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.199 God brought 00:27:19.199 --> 00:27:20.619 Joseph through. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.720 You see, God 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.599 is always 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.500 present. 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:26.159 He is always 00:27:26.159 --> 00:27:27.379 working in our 00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:29.039 lives, regardless 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:31.039 of how bad or 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:32.000 difficult the 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.399 situation may be. 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:35.880 In fact, God 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.460 is always 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:38.160 working for 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.180 our good. 00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.960 God is 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.759 working for 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.420 our good. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.100 God was 00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:45.980 present with 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.620 Joseph, and 00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.340 God was at 00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:48.720 work. 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:51.700 So why, why 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.960 did God leave 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:54.019 Joseph in 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.420 prison? 00:27:55.580 --> 00:27:56.140 Well, look at 00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.640 the end of 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.380 verse 20. 00:27:57.380 --> 00:28:00.640 while Joseph 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.580 was there in 00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:03.580 prison, the 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:04.640 Lord was 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:06.860 with him, and 00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.600 God showed 00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:08.580 him kindness 00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:10.180 and granted 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:11.280 him favour in 00:28:11.280 --> 00:28:12.000 the eyes of 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.540 the prison 00:28:12.540 --> 00:28:13.120 warder. 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:14.880 So the 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.640 warder put 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.400 Joseph in 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.420 charge of all 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.380 those held in 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.720 the prison, and 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.320 he was made 00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:21.440 responsible for 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.540 all that was 00:28:22.540 --> 00:28:23.200 done there. 00:28:24.260 --> 00:28:25.220 It sounds 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:26.180 very familiar, 00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:26.780 doesn't it? 00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:26.940 Do you 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.460 remember the 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.019 beginning of 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:28.660 this account? 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.339 It's like we've 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.379 been here before. 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.599 It's a similar 00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:33.700 turn of events. 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:34.879 Joseph's 00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.940 accommodation may 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.420 be different. 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.019 He's in a 00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:38.180 dungeon, not 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.879 in a mansion, 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.079 but there's a 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:41.599 familiarity about 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:41.899 it. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.720 There's this 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.980 expectation that, 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.299 well, God 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:46.240 could be at 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.920 work in the 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.700 prison too. 00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.220 You see, if 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:49.960 God brought 00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:50.660 Joseph to 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:52.079 Egypt, if 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.980 God caused 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:54.059 Joseph to be 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.779 a blessing 00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.379 to a 00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:55.720 pagan 00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.379 general, 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.619 don't you 00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:58.859 think that 00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.720 God has a 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.399 purpose for 00:29:00.399 --> 00:29:01.159 Joseph in 00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:01.559 prison? 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:03.119 We're not 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.319 told yet what 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.159 that purpose 00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:05.720 is. 00:29:06.179 --> 00:29:07.019 We need to 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.679 keep reading 00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:08.700 to find out. 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.099 But we are 00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.740 given an 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.240 assurance, 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:11.839 aren't we? 00:29:11.899 --> 00:29:12.279 Look at the 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.779 end of verse 00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:13.379 23. 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:16.780 the Lord 00:29:16.780 --> 00:29:18.440 was with 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:20.600 Joseph and 00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.100 gave him 00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:23.100 success in 00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:24.560 whatever he 00:29:24.560 --> 00:29:25.000 did. 00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:27.620 So when we 00:29:27.620 --> 00:29:28.220 pray, 00:29:29.520 --> 00:29:30.360 Lord be 00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.980 with so 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.580 and so, 00:29:33.540 --> 00:29:33.980 well, what 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.600 we're saying 00:29:34.600 --> 00:29:35.100 is we're 00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:35.500 asking, 00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.720 Lord, would 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.400 you enable 00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.240 that person 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:38.960 to trust 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:40.080 them in 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:40.840 their difficult 00:29:40.840 --> 00:29:41.620 and struggling 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.940 time to 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.880 trust that 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.360 you are 00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:46.059 working out 00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:46.920 good purposes 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.680 for them 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.720 and for 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.299 others. 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:51.200 God is 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:52.740 working in 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.820 our temptations 00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:55.180 and in our 00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.860 trials for 00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.320 good. 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.180 So you 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:01.840 see, as we 00:30:01.840 --> 00:30:02.519 follow the 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.080 life of 00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:04.680 Joseph, in 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.320 all his 00:30:05.320 --> 00:30:06.220 downs and 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:08.080 ups, as 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:08.660 we watch 00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.480 Joseph go 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.059 through his 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:11.559 trials and 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.180 through his 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.299 temptations, 00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:15.740 isn't it so 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.539 similar to 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.000 our own 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.580 life and 00:30:17.580 --> 00:30:18.039 our own 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:18.580 pattern? 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.440 And we 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:20.920 ask the 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.400 question, 00:30:21.560 --> 00:30:22.080 where is 00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:22.539 God? 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.680 Is God 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.200 working? 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:27.799 Well, God 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.500 is present 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.039 with you. 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.240 He never 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:30.980 leaves you. 00:30:31.820 --> 00:30:32.200 He is 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.779 always at 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.720 work in 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.460 your life. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.420 Whether it's 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:36.120 a time of 00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:37.240 suffering to 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.940 show to 00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:39.019 others that 00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.620 God is 00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:40.240 enough and 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.640 he is 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:41.160 sufficient. 00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.340 even in 00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:42.560 our 00:30:42.560 --> 00:30:43.279 successful 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:44.040 times and 00:30:44.040 --> 00:30:44.759 in the 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.420 best of 00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.660 days, God 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.080 is with 00:30:47.080 --> 00:30:47.460 you to 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.240 show that 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.720 God is 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.340 good and 00:30:49.340 --> 00:30:50.519 gracious, that 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:50.800 he has 00:30:50.800 --> 00:30:51.340 given you 00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:51.860 all that 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.519 you need. 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.420 And when 00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:54.960 we find 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.680 ourselves in 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.320 a time of 00:30:56.320 --> 00:30:57.779 trial and 00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.360 we're wondering 00:30:58.360 --> 00:30:59.120 what's going 00:30:59.120 --> 00:31:00.960 on, yes, 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.100 God's purposes 00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:02.740 are being 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.540 worked out. 00:31:04.060 --> 00:31:04.420 He is 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:05.000 strengthening 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.420 you. 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.060 He is 00:31:06.060 --> 00:31:06.700 making you 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.900 strong so 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.400 that in 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:09.120 your life, 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:09.739 where you 00:31:09.739 --> 00:31:10.779 are, you 00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.359 can bring 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:11.879 God's 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:13.259 blessing to 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.759 others. 00:31:14.699 --> 00:31:15.659 Let's pray 00:31:15.659 --> 00:31:16.419 together. 00:31:16.419 --> 00:31:16.559 Amen. 00:31:32.939 --> 00:31:34.139 Father, thank 00:31:34.139 --> 00:31:36.359 you that you 00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:37.039 are present 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.740 with us 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.339 today. 00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:40.919 And as we 00:31:40.919 --> 00:31:41.519 go into 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.479 this new 00:31:42.479 --> 00:31:44.139 week, while 00:31:44.139 --> 00:31:44.799 the week is 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.599 unknown to 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:47.139 us, we 00:31:47.139 --> 00:31:47.679 do not 00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:48.359 know what 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:49.299 will unfold 00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:50.459 before us. 00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:52.619 We thank 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.359 you that you 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:54.079 are enough 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.619 and you 00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.019 will be 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.559 sufficient. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:59.159 Thank you, 00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.079 Father, that 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:01.119 you are at 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:02.059 work in us 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:02.500 and through 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:04.479 us so that 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:04.940 we can 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:06.420 bless others 00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:08.019 and show 00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:10.019 others that 00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.799 you are 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:12.079 good and 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:12.460 you are 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:13.980 kind and 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.960 meet us in 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.680 all of our 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.099 need. 00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:18.240 So help us 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:19.019 to go with 00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.860 confidence, 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.500 trusting you 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.779 and being 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.860 strengthened by 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.220 you. 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.920 In Jesus' 00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:26.460 name, 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:27.740 Amen. 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:27.900 Amen. 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.839 We're 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.299 going to 00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:36.559 sing 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.160 together. 00:32:39.620 --> 00:32:40.319 Mine are 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:40.980 days that 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.500 God has 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.180 numbered, I 00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:42.779 was made 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.360 to walk 00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:43.539 with you.